Houstonians line up early to snag Air Jordans

Updated 11:37 pm, Thursday, December 22, 2011

Photo: Cody Duty

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Clockwise from left, Diego Noria, Benjy Zul, Alexis Ramirez, Chelsea Soto and Chris Saucedo play Jenga as they wait for Foot Locker to open at Gulf Gate mall. Customers began to line up as early as yesterday afternoon for the release of the new Air Jordans. less

Clockwise from left, Diego Noria, Benjy Zul, Alexis Ramirez, Chelsea Soto and Chris Saucedo play Jenga as they wait for Foot Locker to open at Gulf Gate mall. Customers began to line up as early as yesterday ... more

Photo: Cody Duty

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Keyana William, left, and Chase Jones, right, laugh as they wait for the release of the new Air Jordans at Foot Locker in Gulfgate Center Mall Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, in Houston. "I want the shoes cuz they'e live," Jones said. "They're cool, and they look good." Customers began to line up as early as noon Tuesday afternoon for their release at midnight Friday. (Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle) less

Keyana William, left, and Chase Jones, right, laugh as they wait for the release of the new Air Jordans at Foot Locker in Gulfgate Center Mall Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, in Houston. "I want the shoes cuz they'e ... more

Photo: Cody Duty

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Kenneth Ramos takes shelter from the cold and rain as he waits for Foot Locker to open at Gulf Gate mall. Customers began to line up as early as yesterday afternoon for the release of the new Air Jordans.

Kenneth Ramos takes shelter from the cold and rain as he waits for Foot Locker to open at Gulf Gate mall. Customers began to line up as early as yesterday afternoon for the release of the new Air Jordans.

Photo: Cody Duty

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A customer sleeps as he waits along with other customers for the release of the new Air Jordans at Foot Locker in Gulfgate Center Mall Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, in Houston. Customers began to line up as early as noon Tuesday afternoon for their release at midnight Friday release. (Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle) less

A customer sleeps as he waits along with other customers for the release of the new Air Jordans at Foot Locker in Gulfgate Center Mall Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, in Houston. Customers began to line up as early ... more

Photo: Cody Duty

Houstonians line up early to snag Air Jordans

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Houstonians have been lining up for days for what sneakerheads nationwide consider one of the biggest product releases of the year: the Air Jordan XI Concord.

More than 200 people waited Thursday morning at the Foot Locker at Gulfgate Mall in anticipation of the re-release of the highly sought-after shoe.

Another 200 camped in front of the Footaction store on the opposite end of the shopping center.

At the Galleria, hundreds were outside the mall late Thursday. At least three Houston police squad cars stood watch.

The retro shoes don't go on sale until midnight Thursday, but fans started camping out as early as Monday for a chance to score the limited-release sneakers.

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Edward Ledesma, 18, was the first in line at the Foot Locker. He had been waiting since Monday night.

"These are the shoes Michael Jordan used on the court," Ledesma said. "They're limited editions."

The shoes, originally released in 1995, are the latest in the Air Jordan XI line to be re-released. Enthusiasts like the shoes' patent leather coating and black-and-white color scheme.

At the Galleria, Jaccob Mejia, 19, said he has been waiting since midnight Tuesday. Mejia said he and his 15-year-old brother, Jonathan Perez, parked their car nearby and have been taking turns holding their place in line. While one would stay at the spot on West Alabama near McCue, near the Foot Locker, the other would sleep in the car.

Through the cold weather and the rain, the wait for the prized shoe is worth it, Mejia said."I like Jordans," Mejia said. "I'm a collector."

'I always buy them'

Lifelong shoe collector Gabriel Escalante, 25, had no problem with the wait, either.

"I've been wearing these shoes since I was a little kid," Escalante said. "They always come out again and again, and I always buy them."

Ledesma was in a similar spot on the same day last year, when the Air Jordan XI Cool Grey shoes came out.

Fights broke out at Deerbrook and Northline malls as sneaker aficionados waited in line to buy the coveted kicks.

Ledesma said he saw some violence as he waited in line last year.

"There were a couple fights out here," Ledesma said. "Some girls were fighting for the last ones."

A security officer at the Footaction store said he anticipates a smooth process this year, adding that Gulfgate is one of the safest in the area due to 24-hour police surveillance.

Passing the time with games

A Footaction employee said the store plans to hand out tickets for certain sizes to minimize customer disappointment.

Chelsea Soto and several of her friends played Jenga on Thursday morning as they waited for the Gulfgate Foot Locker to open. It had been a chilly, rainy night, she said, but the weather didn't dampen their enthusiasm.

"We're happy campers," Soto said.

The shoes, which retail for about $180 for adults, already were selling online for $300 to $500 on Thursday. Ramon Ramos, 15, said the shoes are a good investment.

"This is the second pair I'm going to get," Ramos said. "You can make a profit out of this. If you're a real sneakerhead you can just collect them, and later on they'll be worth a lot of money."